Tag: jon wong

Jon Wong was born and raised in Calgary and in ward 4. He went to the University of Western Ontario and received a B.A. in political science and governmental affairs with honours. He currently works as a marketing and business director for a painting contractor. In his spare time, Jon is involved with coaching amateur sports at the club level and at all three levels of schooling. 

Wong wants to give back to the community that he was born and raised in.

“I commend all candidates for running. It’s not an easy thing to do,” says Wong.

However, Wong says that there has been a lack of focus and understanding about the community from candidates as his top concern is meeting community needs.

Wong hopes that Calgary will evolve to what Plan It set out the city to be. He also wants to see Calgary as “the best place in the world” to live in.

“We will have a self sustainable community, a vibrant economy, and the infrastructure is there for everyone,” says Wong.

“I still think that the traditional way of getting your name is still prominent in this election,” remarked Wong.

While Wong does not believe social media is on par with mainstream media, it does have a place to get his generation out there to vote and learn about the election.

“A lot of them associate with social media, just not politics,” Wong pointed out. 

Wong saw that over a large period of time, city council’s relationship with the provincial government was something that council was improving on. 

He pointed out that a significant portion of our funding does come from the province, so developing that key partnership with Edmonton is important.

Wong also saw city council moving in the right direction in promoting the city. 

Wong did not believe that constitutional powers should be allotted to cities. He pointed out that between the federal and provincial governments, a lot of inefficiencies and arguments occur because of this federal system we put into place.

“You’re always going to have some sort of overlap,” says Wong. “Things aren’t going to get done.”

Wong believes Calgary has a great transportation system and that taking the bus as an elected official would be setting an example for other Calgarians. 

“I think I would. Taking the bus would give me an awesome way to connect with the residents of Ward 4,” Wong told CalgaryPolitics.com. 

“They have the same issues as any other group. When I look at our ward, I look at them as fellow communities of the ward,” says Wong.

Wong said his platform contains issues that affect everyone regardless if they are Chinese or Aboriginal. He said that all groups have a voice, and they have to be heard.

Wong says there is a fine line between juggling public safety and removing the sense of big brother watching over citizens. Wong points out that closed circuit televisions do help police and protect the public, and that it depends on statistics about which communities have higher crime rates. 

On the public behavior bylaw, Wong found merit in it. He relates to efforts in Toronto to eliminate aggressive panhandlers because these individuals were disrupting everyone’s daily lives and ability to do so without disorderly interference.

Wong was careful to also point out that implementation had to follow what the intent of the law was originally.

“If there are complaints that it’s unfairly targeting the wrong people, we as city council should sit down and review it,” says Wong. 

This is cross-posted with CalgaryPolitics.com